A priest accused of embezzling more than $30,000 from a Seymour church will not have a criminal record if he returns to his native Congo within 90 days.
A judge granted the priest, Honore Kombo, entry into “accelerated rehabilitation,” a pretrial diversionary program after the priest’s lawyer provided proof that the money he stole from St. Augustine’s Church was recently paid back.
Kombo did not speak during the four-minute hearing at Superior Court in Milford Tuesday, nor did anyone from St. Augustine’s.
Background
Church officials discovered discrepancies in their financial statements in 2015.
Kombo was relieved of his duties at St. Augustine Church on Washington Avenue in July 2015, and replaced by the Rev. Kevin Forsyth.
According to an arrest warrant authored by Seymour detectives, Kombo admitted taking money from church accounts, telling authorities the money went toward worthy programs in his native Congo. The priest was allegedly involved with setting up a “microfinance” company, which delivers financial services to people unable to access those services through traditional means.
The programs are popular in developing countries where there aren’t a lot of banks.
Church OK With It
State’s Attorney Kevin Lawlor told the judge church officials were OK with Kombo receiving accelerated rehabilitation.
“They have reached out to me,” Lawlor said. “Fr. Forsyth sent a letter to my office stating that with restitution being paid in full, they do not object to the accelerated rehabilitation program.”
Lawlor also told the judge that Kombo’s lawyer, William Paetzold, had told him that Kombo intends to return to his native Congo.
As a result, the prosecutor said he did not object to Kombo’s entry into the diversionary program.
Paetzold told the judge that Kombo would be leaving for the Congo as soon as he can.
“Fr. Kombo will immediately make efforts to get a plane ticket to his homeland,” he said.
Judge Iannotti then granted Kombo’s entry into the program, on the condition that the priest leave the country within 90 days.
Maria Zone, a spokesperson for the Hartford Archdiocese, said Kombo remains a priest, though he “has been permanently removed from priestly ministry in the Archdiocese of Hartford.”
“As he remains a priest of the Diocese of Kikwit in the Congo, he must report to his bishop there after his case is resolved,” Zone said. “His bishop has been made aware of this situation.”
